1. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. One of Islam’s five pillars is the practice of fasting.

2. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which Muslims refrain from eating, drinking from dawn until sunset.

3. Fasting is observed from dawn to sunset only before dawn Muslims eat a pre-fast meal. It is called ‘Sahur’. After sunset, they eat another meal to break their fast and it is called ‘Iftar’.

4. It is not only the month of fasting, but also the month of striving to be free of lying and cheating. It is the month of self-control for all evil deeds. It is the time to do good deeds.

5. It is the time to do charity. In this amonth reward is 70 times. One good deed gives 70 rewards.

6. Muslims do I’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramdan for dedication in prayers and duas.

7. Reciting one or more complete Qur’an in the month of Ramadan.

8. During Ramadan, special evening prayers are conducted during which long portions of the Quran are recited. These special prayers are known as taraweeh.

9. Ramadan was the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an was revealed to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. That was the night known as "The Night of Power" or “Laylat-ul-Qadr” in Arabic.

10. Ramadan ends with Eid-ul-Fitr on the first of Shawwal, with much celebration and feasting.

Umair Mazhar Mukadam, Grade-5C, Indian Community School Kuwait Khaitan